on our first outing with our 2006, 35.5 hunter, I managed to jam the main sail inside the mast whil attempting to unroll it for the first sail. Help!
the main is jammed up inside the mast
- Thread starter lookoutmcg
- Start date
Been there. Done that. I just work it in and out. Pull down on the foot. And over and over. In and out. Eventually it unrolls.
+1
It was probably not rolled up correctly the last time it was used. Next time it gets rolled up, make sure the luff line is released so it doesn't fold over winding into the mast. Took me a while to figure that out.
Use the winch on the mast
That happens when the sail was not tightly rolled in when it was put away last. I find that when that happens it helps to use a winch handle in the winch on the mast to roll the sail back in as tight as you can. Then slowly try pulling it out, watching for more than one layer trying to get out the slot at the same time. If you see that starting, lock the outhaul and again try winching the sail back into the mast tighter around the internal foil. Repeat until you get it to come out.
Before furling you want to be motoring slowly into the wind with the boom slightly to port, as that way the sail is going in the slot with least friction on the slot edge. The most important step in avoiding this happening again is to be sure to keep tension on the outhaul when you are furling the sail so it wraps tightly around the internal foil. If possible have someone else put resistance on the outhaul while you furl it. Good luck!
That happens when the sail was not tightly rolled in when it was put away last. I find that when that happens it helps to use a winch handle in the winch on the mast to roll the sail back in as tight as you can. Then slowly try pulling it out, watching for more than one layer trying to get out the slot at the same time. If you see that starting, lock the outhaul and again try winching the sail back into the mast tighter around the internal foil. Repeat until you get it to come out.
Before furling you want to be motoring slowly into the wind with the boom slightly to port, as that way the sail is going in the slot with least friction on the slot edge. The most important step in avoiding this happening again is to be sure to keep tension on the outhaul when you are furling the sail so it wraps tightly around the internal foil. If possible have someone else put resistance on the outhaul while you furl it. Good luck!
All the advice above is very good. I find releasing the vang and topping lift allows the boom to position itself so the clew can equalize the pull on both the foot and leach of the sail. I release the vang when the sail goes in or out. Keep some tension on the outhaul when furling it in.
Bob
Bob
Happened to me also. At the dock I put some dish soap in a empty hose, then turned on the water and sprayed the mixture on the sail. The soap made a big difference in allowing the jammed sail to pull out.
It happens to us on a regular basis even when we are careful about keeping tension on the out haul when furling. I now play the out haul against the furling line until I get the jamb out. Often I end up pulling the main out by hand at the mast to boom connection. The rigger suggests that the main is old and bagged and that causes the jamming when unfurling. I maintain that it wasn't a problem before re rigging. I had a new vang installed. I will try easing the vang and the topping lift to lower the angle of the boom as low as the arch will allow. Any other suggestions?
I regularly had troubles with my furling main jamming when trying to pull it out with the outhaul line. I've discovered if I use the out furling line to push the sale out and then just tighten up the slack with the outhaul I don't have any problems with it jamming.
Thank you all for your suggestions and helpful info. Finally had to go up in a bosuns chair with Dawn soap and paint sticks and force it out inch by inch.
Worked great, but sail has to be replaced, had been repaired too many times to cleanly go into the mast. The joys of buying a used charter.
Thanks again, Mike
Worked great, but sail has to be replaced, had been repaired too many times to cleanly go into the mast. The joys of buying a used charter.
Thanks again, Mike